On Monday, October 6, 2025, a general strike by teachers began in the province of Alberta. More than 50,000 teachers joined the protest, temporarily suspending classes in most schools in the province. The strike affected public, Catholic, and French-language schools, where more than 700,000 children study.
The strike was caused by unsuccessful negotiations between the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and the provincial government. Educators are demanding higher wages, smaller class sizes, and better working conditions. They emphasize that the current situation in schools is critical: many teachers are overworked and classrooms are overcrowded, which affects the quality of education.
The Alberta government has offered a gradual 12% pay increase over four years, but the union considers this offer insufficient given the level of inflation and the workload on teachers. Negotiations lasted several weeks, but the parties failed to reach an agreement, so a strike was initiated, the first of this scale in the province in the last decade.
Most schools in Alberta have already notified parents of the suspension of classes. Some school districts are trying to introduce temporary online classes, but most institutions remain closed. The government had to take a number of measures to support families, including introducing compensation of $150 per week for parents of children under 12 who need care during the strike.
In addition, high school students are temporarily allowed to earn credits remotely so they don't lose the school year. In some communities, school boards are already organizing after-school programs and support centers for kids.
The teachers' association emphasizes that the strike is not directed against students or parents, but is a “necessary step” to protect the education system. At the same time, the Alberta government is calling on educators to return to negotiations and assures that it is seeking “a fair solution for all parties.”
How long the strike will last is still unknown. But if no agreement is reached by the end of the week, the educational process in the province could be paralyzed for an indefinite period.